What Meta does

Meta Platforms, Inc. is a publicly traded social technology company (NASDAQ: META) that operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger — collectively serving over 3 billion daily active users and 3.56 billion daily visitors. The company monetizes primarily through digital advertising across these surfaces, with Q1 2026 advertising revenue of $55 billion (+33% YoY) driven by 19% growth in ad impressions and 12% growth in average ad prices; full-year 2025 revenue reached $200.97B with a 41.4% operating margin and Q1 2026 net income of $26.77B (EPS $10.44). Beyond advertising, Meta runs a growing consumer subscription business (Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp Plus at $2.99-$3.99/mo, Meta AI Plus/Premium at $7.99-$19.99/mo, Meta One creator/business plans at $14.99-$49.99/mo, Meta Horizon+ at $7.99/mo) and a direct-to-consumer hardware business spanning Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses ($224-$799), Oakley Meta, Meta's own branded glasses, and Meta Quest VR headsets.

The company's core technology stack is anchored by its AI capabilities: the Llama family of generative AI models, the Meta AI assistant deployed across apps and glasses, the Meta Business Agent platform (1M+ businesses), Facebook AI Mode conversational search, and Creator Assistant. Meta is pursuing vertical integration in AI infrastructure through Broadcom custom ASICs, an up-to-6-gigawatt AMD Instinct GPU commitment (~$100B implied), a $27B Nebius cloud contract, 1.6GW of Crusoe compute, Corning optical fiber, and 837 MW of CleanMax renewable energy in India. Meta's go-to-market combines product-led growth through owned platforms with enterprise field sales (notably the WPP Open integration) and direct-to-consumer hardware retail; it invests aggressively in capex ($125-145B FY2026 guidance) while executing a restructuring that cut ~8,000 jobs in May 2026 and reassigned 7,000 employees to AI initiatives.

Meta serves four primary customer segments — consumers (3B+ DAUs), businesses and advertisers (served via the AI advertising platform and Business Agent), creators and influencers (via Threads, Instagram, and the Creator Marketing Hub), and developers and enterprises (Llama, Meta Horizon, WhatsApp Business API). The company faces material regulatory exposure including an EU addictive-design probe, a $375M New Mexico jury verdict, ongoing child-safety litigation in Vermont and Santa Clara County, UK Online Safety Act fee challenges, and Canadian legislation that would bar under-16 users, alongside the forced divestiture of its $2B Manus AI acquisition following a Beijing national security order. Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with major AI data center buildouts in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and Gujarat, India.

Name

Meta

Legal name

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Website

https://meta.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Meta Platforms operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger serving over 3 billion daily users, monetizing primarily through digital advertising (Q1 2026 revenue $56.3B, +33% YoY) while expanding into AI-powered advertising tools, AI glasses, VR headsets, and consumer/enterprise subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Media and Digital Advertising

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds (BPAMAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metaverse Virtual World Platforms (social worlds, land, UGC) (FSAPAGAD)

Keywords

• Social media platforms
• Digital advertising
• AI smart glasses
• Virtual reality headsets
• Generative AI models

Headquarters

HQ city

Menlo Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Primary revenue stream from digital advertising across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Meta generates revenue by selling ad placements to businesses targeting its massive user base of over 3 billion daily active users. Q1 2026 advertising revenue reached $55 billion with 33% year-over-year growth driven by 19% increase in ad impressions and 12% increase in average ad prices.
2. Business Solutions & AI Tools: Revenue from Meta Business Agent platform and AI-powered advertising tools offered to businesses, with monetization through subscription plans for advanced AI features and services
3. Hardware Sales: Sales of consumer hardware products including Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses ($299-$799), Meta Quest VR headsets, and accessories. Also includes Meta Horizon+ subscription service for VR content
4. Subscription Services: Meta offers Plus subscription tiers for consumer apps (Facebook Plus $3.99/month, Instagram Plus $3.99/month, WhatsApp Plus $2.99/month) offering premium features, plus Meta One subscription brand with AI plans and creator/business plans

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Meta operates a family of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads) used by over 3 billion people daily, monetized primarily through a digital advertising platform powered by AI-driven targeting, creative generation, and measurement tools. The company also sells consumer hardware including Meta Quest VR headsets and AI smart glasses (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, Meta Glasses), offers subscription tiers for premium consumer features and AI access, and provides business solutions such as Meta Business Agent for automated customer messaging.

Product overview

Meta operates a diversified technology portfolio centered on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads) and extending into AI-powered hardware and VR/AR experiences. The company offers AI integration across its platforms through Meta AI assistant, AI-powered advertising tools, and the Meta Business Agent for automated customer service. Hardware products include Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica (Ray-Ban and Oakley brands), Meta's own branded Meta Glasses line, and Meta Quest VR headsets. Meta also provides subscription services including Meta Horizon+ for VR content and Meta Plus tiers for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The product ecosystem is unified through Meta AI, which powers features across devices and platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meta Quest: Virtual reality headsets and mixed reality devices, formerly known as Oculus Quest. Includes Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S, and related software platform Meta Horizon.
• Meta Horizon+
• Ray-Ban Meta
• Meta Glasses
• Oakley Meta
• Meta AI
• Meta Business Agent
• Meta Creator Marketing Hub

Products and services

• Ray-Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses AI-powered smart glasses co-developed with Ray-Ban, featuring built-in camera, audio, and Meta AI integration for hands-free photography, video recording, and voice-activated AI assistance. Available in multiple styles priced from $224 to $379.
• Meta Ray-Ban Display Premium smart glasses with a built-in display, paired with a neural band for gesture control, offering Meta AI capabilities, hands-free photography, and video recording. Priced at $799.
• Oakley Meta HSTN Performance-focused AI smart glasses developed in partnership with Oakley, designed for sports and active lifestyles. Features include Prizm lens technology, Transitions adaptive lenses, and Meta AI integration. Priced at $399.
• Meta Glasses Starfire Kylie Edition First AI glasses designed with Kylie Jenner, featuring Meta AI voiced by Kylie Jenner. Available in Classic Black, Dark Tortoise, and Clear to Grey Transitions lenses, priced at $399.
• Meta Glasses Adventurer Meta's own branded AI glasses offering hands-free camera, audio, and Meta AI capabilities in 8 colors, starting at $299.
• Meta Glasses Fury Meta's own branded AI glasses with aggressive styling, available in 7 colors with hands-free camera, audio, and Meta AI capabilities, starting at $299.
• Meta Quest 3S Affordable mixed reality VR headset enabling immersive gaming, entertainment, and productivity experiences with passthrough cameras for mixed reality, priced at $299.
• Meta Horizon+ VR content subscription service for Meta Quest devices offering access to over 100 games and apps with monthly titles and catalog rotation, priced at $7.99/month or $59.99/year.
• Meta Business Agent AI-powered conversational agent platform for businesses, available across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, enabling automated customer service, support, and commerce conversations at scale with over 1 million enterprises using it globally.
• Creator Assistant Conversational AI tool integrated into the Facebook creator dashboard that analyzes content performance, provides personalized insights, and suggests trending content ideas based on audience behavior and engagement patterns.
• Meta AI Advertising Platform End-to-end AI-powered advertising platform covering ad creation, testing, and launching with features including Brand Memory, Creative Strategy Space, enhanced text generation tools, and WPP Open integration for enterprise agencies.
• Meta Creator Marketing Hub Unified platform merging Creator Marketplace and Partnership Ads Hub to streamline creator-brand collaborations across Meta's platforms.
• Facebook Plus Paid subscription tier for Facebook offering premium features including story analytics with replay counts, unlimited audience lists, weekly story spotlighting, extended story duration, and customization options at $3.99/month.
• Instagram Plus Paid subscription tier for Instagram offering premium features including story analytics, unlimited audience lists, super reactions, and enhanced customization at $3.99/month.
• WhatsApp Plus Paid subscription tier for WhatsApp offering premium features including custom stickers with effects, app themes and icons, ability to pin up to 20 chats, premium ringtones, and customizable chat lists at $2.99/month.
• Threads Meta's text-based social media platform with over 500 million monthly active users, featuring Communities, Live Chats, direct messaging, and 'Your Algo' feed control.
• Facebook AI Mode Conversational AI search feature on Facebook that generates natural language answers by processing publicly-posted content, Groups, Reels, and Marketplace listings, leveraging 20 years of Meta's social data.
• Meta Quest Platform Meta's VR/AR platform encompassing Meta Quest headsets, Meta Horizon OS, and the Meta Horizon Store for VR applications and experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.13 return for every $1 spent on advertising, representing 25% increase since 2022
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability14 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WPPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026WPP partnered with Meta to integrate the company's AI advertising tools into WPP Open operating platform, allowing agencies to manage ads for clients using Meta's end-to-end AI advertising suite including brand memory, enhanced text generation, and video voiceovers in 11 languages.
• CrusoecoreTechnology or Integration · 19 June 2026Meta signed contracts to secure 1.6GW of compute capacity from Crusoe's data center locations in Childress, Texas, and Warrenton, Missouri. Crusoe's contracted AI infrastructure capacity has reached 4.9GW with a total development pipeline exceeding 40GW.
• BroadcomcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 June 2026Broadcom builds custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for Meta as one of its major AI customers. Meta is pursuing vertical integration in AI through its own model development and custom chip development with Broadcom.
• FlipkartminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Flipkart announced partnership with Meta to enable creator-led shopping across Facebook and Instagram platforms. Content creators can tag Flipkart and Myntra products in posts, allowing consumers to purchase directly with a single tap while creators earn commission on each sale.
• CorningcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 June 2026Corning secured a multiyear, multibillion-dollar deal with Meta to supply optical fiber for its expanding data center network. The agreements, worth up to $6 billion with Meta and $3.2 billion with Nvidia, are expected to generate billions in future revenue.
• AdidasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Adidas partnered with Meta as part of FIFA World Cup 2026 collaboration to deliver official content including the Trionda match ball as WhatsApp's new football emoji and creator collaborations.
• Reliance IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Meta partnered with Reliance Industries to build an AI-enabled data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat with initial capacity of 168 megawatts. The facility will support Meta's products and AI capabilities and bring computing infrastructure closer to one of its fastest-growing user bases globally, powered by renewable energy.
• EE (BT Group)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026EE partnered with Meta to improve video streaming reliability on Facebook and Instagram during peak demand. EE deployed Advanced RAN Coordination technology across its UK 5G+ network and partnered with Meta to boost mobile video performance.
• AMDcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 April 2026Meta plans to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPUs over the next several years. AMD has secured GPU supply commitments from Meta worth an estimated $100 billion over the coming years.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Alphabet: Alphabet operates Google Search, YouTube, and the largest digital advertising network outside Meta. Both companies compete head-to-head for global digital ad budgets, AI talent, and advertising platform share, making Alphabet Meta's most direct comparable.
• Snap: Snap operates Snapchat, a social media platform competing directly with Instagram and Facebook for user attention and advertiser spend. Both companies target similar demographics and offer similar ad products, including AR features.
• TikTok (ByteDance): TikTok is Meta's primary competitor in short-form video social media, directly threatening Instagram Reels and Facebook video engagement. Both platforms monetize primarily through advertising and compete for creator talent globally.
• X (formerly Twitter): X competes with Meta's Threads platform for text-based social media and real-time conversation share. Both platforms serve similar advertising and subscription use cases for creators, brands, and news consumption.
• Pinterest: Pinterest operates a visual discovery and social media platform competing for advertising budgets and consumer engagement. Both companies target brand advertisers and have invested in AI-driven shopping and creative tools.
• Reddit: Reddit operates a community-based social platform that competes with Facebook Groups and Threads for user engagement. Both companies monetize through advertising and have explored AI-powered search and content discovery features.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft: Microsoft competes with Meta in AI model development (Llama vs. GPT), cloud infrastructure, and enterprise AI tools. Both companies report 40%+ operating margins and are making comparable AI infrastructure investments.
• Amazon: Amazon competes with Meta in digital advertising through its sponsored products and demand-side platform, while also overlapping in AI infrastructure (AWS) and consumer hardware (Echo, Ring). Both companies are top-tier AI infrastructure investors.
• Apple: Apple competes with Meta through the Apple Vision Pro VR/AR headset, iOS privacy changes that impact Meta's ad targeting, and broader AI assistant offerings. Apple represents both a competitor and a platform-level threat to Meta's business model.

Emerging players

• Roblox: Roblox operates a virtual world platform that overlaps with Meta's metaverse ambitions through Meta Horizon Worlds. Both companies invest in social virtual experiences, creator monetization, and VR hardware integration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Meta
• YouTubeyoutube.com/meta
• Facebookfacebook.com/Meta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meta
• Instagraminstagram.com/meta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds35 records

Investors28 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A114 records

Investments73 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meta